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Beiween 


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'MllllllllllIIllllllllllltlltllllllllltllllltlllMlIllIllllUnillllltlllllllllllllltllllltllllllllllllllllllMIIIIIMIIlinillMIIII*- 

SIAM 


A  Pastoral  Parable  for  Presbyterians 


IlY  MRS.  J.  A.  EAKIN. 


A  KING  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  at  a  very 
Great  Price  and  divided  it  into  many  fields. 
He  sought  out  willing  laborers  to  work 
these  fields  and  gave  unto  them  good  wages.  He 
also  promised  them  manyfold  from  the  fruits  of  the 
harvest. 

And  it  came  to’pass  after  years  that  many  of  the 
fields  had  hedges  about  them,  vineyards  planted, 
apple  trees  flourishing  among  the  trees  of  the  woods, 
and  the  fields  were  sown  with  the  finest  of  the  wheat. 

And  it  came  to  pass  as  the  King  walked  out  to 
view  his  fields  that  he  found  one  far  down  in  the 
southland  (Siam),  a  dense  wilderness.  Large  ele¬ 
phants  and  tigers  filled  the  wastes;  large  cobras 
or  boa-constrictors  rustled  or  glided  ever>nvhere; 
the  night-monster  found  there  his  place  of  rest; 
poisonous  weeds  and  thorn  trees  and  the  cacti  filled 
all  space;  and  stinging  insects  flitted  about  in  the 
heal  of  the  tropical  sun. 

The  King  returned  to  his  palace,  called  his  workers 
together,  and  inquired  about  this  neglected  field. 
They  answered  and  said,  “0  King,  we  found  the 
field  at  the  rising  of  the  sun  and  the  field  at  the 
setting  of  the  sun  so  fruitful  that  we  thought  this 
dense  wilderness,  so  dangerous  to  life,  would  not 
pay  for  the  trouble  of  clearing.” 

When  they  perceived  that  the  King  was  grieved 
because  of  their  neglect,  Baptizo  and  Congregatio 
(the  Baptist  and  American  Boards)  offered  to  put 
laborers  there.  And  it  came  to  pass  after  many  days 

.iiiiitiiiiiiiiiniiitiiiiiiiiiiiiitiitMiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiitiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiKiitiiiiiiiiitiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. 


-■iiiiiiitiittiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiitiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiitiitiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiii' 

that  they  sought  release  from  the  King  in  order  that 
they  might  take  up  work  in  the  fields  beyond 
(Burmah  and  China).  The  King  released  them 
from  this  wilderness  work  after  many  of  the  laborers 
had  laid  down  their  lives. 

The  King  pondered  for  many  days  over  whom 
he  should  call.  And  it  came  to  pass  in  the  night  that 
he  bethought  himself  of  Presbyter  (the  Presbyterian 
Board),  a  devout  man,  who  feared  the  King  with 
all  his  house,  a  courageous,  untiring  worker.  He 
called  him  into  his  presence  and  told  him  how  the 
South  Field  was  neglected.  He  told  him  that,  with 
faithful  clearing,  cutting  and  killing  of  wild  beasts, 
the  field  would  be  more  beautiful  than  his  present 
cultivated  fields.  Presbyter  answered  and  said:  “O 
King,  I  will  go  forth.  I  will  consult  my  household. 
I  will  talk  to  my  stalwart  sons  and  daughters.  I  will 
return  and  let  thee  know  who  among  my  household 
will  be  ready  to  do  this  hard  work.” 

And  Presbyter  arose  very  early  in  the  morning 
and  stood  before  the  presence  of  the  King.  “O 
King,”  he  said,  ‘T  find  but  one  son  (Rev.  William 
Buell)  with  his  wife  willing  to  go  forth.  Is  it 
well?”  And  the  King  answered  and  said,  “It  is 
well.”  And  it  came  to  pass  after  these  two  were 
gone  forth,  that  the  dreadful  plague  and  the  fright 
from  the  wild  beasts  drove  away  their  strength.  So, 
sick  unto  death,  they  returned  to  their  own  garden 
of  peace  and  plenty. 

And  it  came  to  pass  after  three  times  had  passed, 
that  Presbyter  found  four  brave  children  (Rev.  D. 
Mattoon  and  wife  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  House)  to  take 
up  this  South  Field,  which  the  King  had  set  his  heart 
upon.  And  they  went  forth  and  the  wilderness  shut 
them  in.  In  time  good  news  came  from  the  four 
brave  ones,  and  Presbyter  found  other  few  who 
were  willing  to  go,  because  they  loved  the  King  and 

.illlllllllllllltKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIItllllllllllllllllllliilMlllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllltlli. 

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'iitiiiMiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiii)' 

liked  hard  places.  Still  others  joined  these 
four,  but  some  laid  down  their  work.  They  said 
that  it  was  a  waste  of  labor,  for  this  South  Field 
never  could  be  made  to  bring  forth  fruit. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  after  a  score  and  seven  years 
had  passed,  that  four  among  these  faithful  few 
(Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGilvary  and  Rev.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson)  saw  beyond  a  very  small  field  like  unto 
this  South  Field,  but  with  better  sbil  (Laos).  They 
secured  Presbyter’s  consent  to  go  up  and  clear  this 
very  fertile  little  North  Field.  So  they  laid  down 
the  heavy  work  of  axe,  knife  and  plow,  and  made 
this  little  field  their  abode.  In  a  few  years,  after 
much  terrible  strife  with  wild  beasts  of  the  forests 
and  poisonous  insects,  this  little  North  Field  blos¬ 
somed  as  the  rose.  They  planted  pleasant  plants 
and  every  tree  that  is  good  to  the  sight ;  also  many 
strange  slips  that  gave  forth  good  fruit.  A  river 
they  found  that  went  forth  to  water  the  field  and 
precious  fruits  filled  the  little  North  Field. 

After  many  years  had  passed  there  were  three¬ 
score  and  more  brave  children  in  this  North  Field. 
They  saw  that  it  was  good  and  pleasant,  and  they 
said  one  to  another:  “The  King  spake  aright  when 
he  said  that  this  field  would  blossom  as  the  rose; 
so  now  let  us  reach  out  to  the  regions  beyond  to  the 
far  north.  We  will  send  four  of  our  number  (Rev. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dodd  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mason)  with 
axe  and  knife  to  begin  the  work  there  (Chieng  Rung, 
China).” 

Meanwhile,  the  South  Field  had  not  prospered  as 
the  little  North  Field.  The  laborers  were  so  pitifully 
few  and  the  soil  so  unyielding. 

The  first  clearing  they  had  called  Wild  Olive 
Plantation  (Bangkok).  Here  they  planted  a  sugar 
palm  grove  called  Wang  Lang  (Harriet  House 
School).  This  clearing  and  killing  of  wild  beasts 

. . limit . . . . . . 


-IIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIItllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIMUlimillUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIUIMIIIMIIIIItl'' 

was  all  done  by  women’s  hands.  They  arc  now 
opening  another  clearing  where  they  will  make  lotus 
gardens  and  mango  groves  and  other  tropical  gar¬ 
dens  and  orchards. 

A  cocoanut  palm  grove  was  started  here  also,  and 
now  it  has  increased  a  hundredfold.  This  is  called 
Christo  (Christian  College).  Here  brave  men  and 
women  work  together.  A  large  clearing  is  made 
and  rice  fields  fill  the  low  places.  Near  by  is  a 
cotton  field  (Printing  Press).  Bales  of  cotton  have 
been  sent  out  from  this  place  for  scores  of  years. 
Later  a  sugar-cane  field  flourished  called  First  Good 
Deeds  (Boon-Itt  Memorial).  The  syrup  made  from 
this  field  gladdens  the  hearts  of  many  peoples. 
Promiscuous  gardens  of  pine-apples  (General  Tour¬ 
ing)  are  planted  here  and  there  wherever  there  is 
a  little  clearing.  Pine-apples  need  little  care  and 
cultivation,  but  yield  abundantly. 

There  are  not  one  score  of  workers  here — only 
sixteen  in  the  Wild  Olive  Plantation.  Many  have 
perished  while  toiling  in  the  heat,  but  ere  they  rested 
from  their  labors  they  rejoiced  with  joy  and  singing 
to  see  the  labor  of  their  hands  growing  and  multi¬ 
plying. 

After  a  score  of  years  had  passed  they  sent  forth 
four  brave  children  to  clear  a  place  distant  three 
days’  journey  by  boat,  which  they  called  Diamond 
Plantation  (Petchaburi).  Here  they  planted  the 
same  kind  of  gardens  as  in  Wild  Olive  Plantation. 
Here  they  also  have  a  nursery  (Hospital),  and  from 
this  place  many  small  trees  are  transplanted  through¬ 
out  this  region.  Here  the  pineapple  gardens  cover 
much  space. 

In  Diamond  Plantation  there  are  nine  laborers 
endeavoring  to  gather  in  the  harvest.  Near  the 
store-house  is  a  little  sacred  spot  fenced  about. 
Here  arc  not  only  several  brave  children  buried,  but 

. . . . . . limit. 


'■lllllllllllllllMIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIIIMIMIIIIIMIIIIItllllllllllinill1MIIIIUII1llllllllllMIIIIIIII1IIIIIIIM1IIM1llllll>' 


there  is  a  row  of  little  babies’  graves,  while  growing 
around  about  this  sacred  resting  place  the  beautiful 
sago  palms  add  shade  and  shelter. 

About  two  score  years  after  they  sent  forth  four 
to  a  place  in  the  north  called  Saloke  (Pitsanuloke), 
where  the  same  kind  of  gardens  flourish.  Saloke 
is  as  large  as  the  little  North  Field,  and  now  there 
are  six  toiling  away  there  obeying  the  King. 
The  laborers  in  the  little  North  Field  pass 
through  Saloke  on  their  way  north  and  look 


Hospital,  Nakawn 

with  pity  upon  the  few  laborers;  yet,  as  far  as  they 
have  had  strength  to  clear  the  wilderness,  the  gar¬ 
dens  are  producing  some  thirty,  some  sixty,  and  some 
a  hundred  fold.  Flere  the  headman  of  the  Nursery 
(Dr.  Shellman)  laid  down  his  life,  unable  to  endure 
longer  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day. 

The  same  year  when  Saloke’s  cultivation  was  be¬ 
gun  four  brave  children  were  sent  to  Nakawn.  To¬ 
day  there  are  only  four,  for  two  have  passed  to  their 

r> 


'■tlllllllllllilOllllllllllllllllllljlllMlilllllllltigilllMIMIIIIIIilllllltlllllllllillliniltlllllllllllllllMIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIMI'’ 

reward  (Mrs.  Swart  and  Miss  Cooper).  A  small 
clearing  is  made  where  their  bodies  are  laid  to  rest; 
the  periwinkle  and  white  lilies  grow  over  their 
graves,  and  their  works  are  carried  on. 

After  three  score  years  and  ten  again  four  brave 
children  were  sent  forth  farther  south.  They  called 
the  plantation  Noon  Rest  (Tap  Tieng).  The  same 
gardens  flourish  here  as  in  other  plantations;  but  the 
pineapple  gardens  (Touring)  cover  large  space. 
One  of  the  brave  children  (Dr.  E.  P.  Dunlap),  after 
long  years  of  labor  in  most  of  the  plantations  men¬ 
tioned  and  after  working  here  for  seven  years,  was 
called  to  his  reward  in  heaven.  His  body  lies  on  a 
sunny  green  slope  lately  cleared,  and  a  royal  palm 
stands  sentinel  over  his  grave. 

Thus  the  South  Field  laborers  have  in  four  score 
years  made  these  five  clearings.  One  wilderness 
(Korat),  the  size  of  North  Field,  is  yet  untouched. 
They  toil  far  into  the  night,  weary,  hands  torn,  feet 
bleeding,  eyes  dimmed  from  the  heat  and  burden 
of  the  years !  Throughout  the  sleepless  nights  they 
are  praying  for  more  laborers  for  the  vast  spaces 
untouched,  and  for  help  to  gather  in  the  present 
harvest  which  is  abundant.  These  few  have  cleared 
a  space;  they  have  sown  the  seed;  but  it  takes  many 
harvesters  to  gather  in  the  grain.  Ravenous  birds 
from  the  mountains  are  feeding  on  this  over-ripened 
grain  now  falling  from  the  ear.  What  might  this 
South  Field  have  been  with  laborers  as  many  as  in 
other  fields?  Look  and  behold  the  clearing  and 
planting  that  has  been  done  by  these  two  score  and 
four  workers ! 

At  this  present  New  Era  the  King  speaks  to  Pres¬ 
byter  and  says:  “O  Presbyter,  the  time  is  short. 
Seek  laborers  as  never  before.  Persuade  some  of 
the  home  laborers  to  go  forth  from  their  gardens 
of  spikenard  and  m3’rrh  (Home  Church),  from  their 

.ill . . . I . . 

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gardens  of  roses  and  lilies,  from  the  banks  of  sweet 
herbs  and  the  beds  of  spices.  Persuade  them  to 
leave  their  wells  of  living  waters,  their  flowing 
streams,  their  homes  as  fair  as  the  morning,  their 
skies  as  clear  as  the  sun ;  where  the  day  is  cool  and 
the  shadows  flee  away;  where  their  going  forth  will 
be  like  a  cloud  of  dew  in  the  heat  of  harvest.  Per¬ 
suade  them  to  go  forth  in  order  that  they  may 
strengthen  the  weak  hands  and  confirm  the  feeble 
knees  and  say  to  them  that  are  of  a  fearful  heart, 
Be  strong,  fear  not;  for  we  are  going  forth  to  help 
you.  Persuade  them  to  go  forth  so  that  gladness 
and  beauty  and  the  voice  of  melody  may  be  found 
therein ;  so  that  the  wilderness  and  the  dry  ground 
shall  be  glad,  and  the  desert  shall  rejoice  and  blos¬ 
som  as  the  rose.” 

Note. — Some  societies  have  not  the  definite  knowledge 
of  missions  in  Siam  which  should  form  the  background  for 
this  parable.  Leaders  of  such  societies  may  use  this  as  an 
outline,  requiring  their  members  to  fill  it  out  with  historical 
data.  For  instance,  the  dates  of  the  occurrences  may  be 
written  in  ink  in  the  proper  places — date-palms  seem  not 
to  have  been  cultivated  in  these  fields! — descriptions  of  Boon 
Itt  Memorial,  Harriet  House  School,  etc.,  may  be  called  for. 
In  short,  much  of  the  history  of  Siam  and  its  missions  may, 
with  the  aid  of  the  Historical  Sketch,  be  woven  into  this 
unusual  parable.  Editor. 

October,  igig. 


Leaflets  for  Reference 

Historical  Sketch . lo  Boon  Itt  . 05 

Question  Book . 05  Water  Ways  and  Jungle 

Side  Lights  on  Siam...  .05  Paths . 03 

Hospitals  in  Siam . 05  Visiting  a  Missionary..  .05 

Schools  and  Colleges...  .05 


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.iiiiitinMiliiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiii. 

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